UPDATED: Fifi cleared for flight

CAF image

8 July 2010

The Commemorative Air Force’s B-29 Superfortress has been cleared to fly again.
 

July 8: The Commemorative Air Force’s (CAF) B-29 Superfortress, 44-62070 ‘Fifi’, has been cleared to fly again by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Fifi was originally fitted with the Wright R-3350-57AM engine and had experienced numerous problems over the 30-plus years it has been flying with the CAF. Following the discovery of metal shavings in the engine oil, the CAF’s B-29/B-24 Squadron decided to ground the aircraft in 2006 until new engines could be fitted. The new engines are a custom-built combination of the R-3350-95W and R-3350-26WD engines, requiring reworking the engine mounts and some of the engine cowlings.

Phase I flight-testing will begin in the afternoon of July 9 and continue through July 10 from Midland International Airport in Texas, with crew training commencing on July 12.

July 12: The CAF reports that the flights have been delayed due to poor weather in Texas.

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